The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has warned ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) against procuring vehicles from suppliers that fail to meet the registration and requirements of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), warning that offenders could face prosecution.
The BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, gave the warning at a joint news conference with NADDC officials in Abuja on Friday, as the Federal Government intensifies enforcement of its Nigeria First policy.
Adedokun said the bureau would withhold its approval for vehicle purchases from non-compliant suppliers, urging government agencies to follow the prescribed procurement guidelines.
The policy promotes locally manufactured and assembled vehicles to boost domestic production, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports. A federal directive issued in September also requires procuring entities to prioritise locally assembled vehicles, machinery and spare parts, with exceptions subject to official approval.
Adedokun said the government was encouraging partnerships between local firms and foreign manufacturers to improve technical capacity and promote technology transfer. He added that a joint monitoring committee had been established to track compliance, while government agencies were required to submit procurement reports.
Meanwhile, NADDC Director-General Joseph Osanipin said local production currently accounts for less than eight percent of vehicles used in Nigeria.
He said the council was targeting an increase to 70 percent, adding that higher production volumes could reduce prices and strengthen the automotive industry.
Osanipin also disclosed that the council was working with universities and technical institutions to commercialize locally developed automotive technologies, including buses and electric tricycles.
